My daughter had this last year about this time and it lasted at least 6 months and the pain was bad. She had injections and did other things that didn't help. Well, tonight she announced that it has been hurting again for a while now. Ugh!!! I have wondered if this is part of FM or part of her UC or maybe just another lovely distraction?

Can be part of fibro or UC and AS, probably more. The first time I had it I thought I was having chest pains and was about to go to the dr. I put my hand on my chest to show a coworker where the pain was and figured out it was costoshondritis. Had a large knot that could be seen with a tight shirt on. It does hurt, mine is calmed down for now, but nevr goes away totally.If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you won't.

I may not do things like other people, but I get things done in my own way, in my own time.

I have chronic costo. At any given time I have some degree of chest/rib cage discomfort. It seems for me that the humid summer weather in the southeast where I live makes it worse and also if I lift something a bit too heavy I have problems. I hear flares can last up to a year in people who are not chronic. Seems like this goes hand in hand for some with fibro.

Mine comes and goes. When I'm in a costo flare, I take NSAID's, muscle relaxants, and I'm careful of the area that is most sore (sleep on the other side, try not to wear confining clothing, etc.)"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart." - Jane Austen

Kelsie, you answered my question in your post, I usually get very sore tender areas on the lower ribs. A few years ago I had terrible pain in the sternum area that came and went, it literally took my breath away. Should have went to the ER but I didn't.

I have not been formally diagnosed but everything I am reading on here sounds like what happens to me. Kelsie, I do not have any suggestions to offer other than heat which seems to help me.Denise from Pittsburgh, Pa

I've been having costochondritis since I was about 20. I'm almost 40 now. Back then, I remember laughing hard and getting a feeling in my ribs like something was stuck. It was a little painful, but not as bad as it is for me now. Now, it's sore all the time. My entire rib cage hurts but it's worse at the bottom of my ribs on both sides. When I have a flare, I cannot lay on my sides at all. I have tried everything from steroids, NSAIDs, muscle relaxers, you name it. The only thing I find that helps some is Emu Oil.**You never know how STRONG you are....until being STRONG is the ONLY choice you have**

Marlee, thanks for the suggestion!! I will ask for the patches for sure if it gets too bad. Poor kid, it has been hurting for a while and she didn't mention it to me until I asked what was wrong when she was touching her ribs and bending over grimacing. Seems she is so used to everything hurting and not finding any releif.

Question, though, if you use them on and off, did it keep the pain away while they were off? She loves volleyball and was out some last year because of this. That may be just what she needs in order to make it through. She has tried the injections, iontophoresis, wrapping it, celebrex and other NSAIDS, flexeril, and I can't remember all what, but nothing really seemed to help much. We were willing to try anything they would give us, but lidocaine patches never came up.

CajunGrl what is Emu Oil??? Sounds like something you get from an Emu!?!? Kinda makes me giggle!

Emu Oil works fast and good for topical pain unfortunately I reacted to the smell and got a sinus infection. I find Topricin works wellwithout the smell and DSMO is good but sometimes leaves you with a garlicly taste in the mouth. Both go into the skin fast and takeaway the pain quickly.

I tried the hormone patches years ago only to find I was allergic to the glue. After about 12 hours my side itched and I took thepatch off and rubbed the skin and it all fell off. Not good.

I have costal/ribs problems as well. That was the first sign of my fibro! I take tylenol because Advil/Motrin upsets my stomach. I will also apply heat (bed buddy) to my chest and ribs at night. Also, check to seen how her posture is. I have terrible posture and I believe it makes my costal pains worse over time. Lastly, this might be TMI, but has she started her menstrual cycle? During my cycle, my breasts do swell and I notice that causes costal problems as well. You might want to consider some light chest streching, especially for bad posture and if she sits at the tv/computer for long periods of time.